Nut sheller



July 9, 1929. J. w. SMITH 1,720,575

NUT SHELLER Fil-ed Sept. 28, 1928 Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED srATEs JOHN W. SMITH, OF NORMAL, ILLINOIS.

NUT SHELLER.

Application filed September 28, 1928. Serial No. 308,919.

The invention provides an implement which greatly facilitates the removal of the meat, or kernel, from. soiit shell nuts, such as English walnuts, pecans and Brazil nuts, without breaking the edible part into small pieces.

The invention contemplates a blade, em bodying a head and a shank, and coacting nibs or beaks projecting from the head and adapted to receive the shell between them, whereby a turning of the device results in a stripping or breaking away of the shell trom the kernel.

While the drawing illustrates a preferred embodin'wnt of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details oi constructitm may be resorted to within the scope ofthe invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understandin of the invention and the merits tin-root, reference is to be had.

to the following description and the drawing hereto attached. in which Figure l is av perspective view illust 'ating an application of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the device.

Figure 3 an edge view thereof.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the tollowin g description and designated in the several views of. the drawing by like reference characters.

The implement consists oii a metal blade embodying a shank 1 and a head 2. The end of the shank opposite the head 2 is beveled, as indicated at 3, to conform to the hand when the device is gripped, thereby preventing any part projecting beyond the side of the hand in line with the little finger and opposite the thumb. The head 2 projects beyond the sides of the shank 1 and is adapted to be gripped between the thumb and the forefinger ol. the h and to enable a turning of the device in the act of removing the shell from the nut. Nibs or beaks l and 5 project outwardly from the head 2 in line with the shank 1 and curve laterally in the same direction, as indicated most clearly in Figure 3 of the drawing. The part 5 is in the form of a single curve, whereas the part 4: presents the outline of a compound curve, as indicated most clearly in Figure 3 of the drawing. The confronting edges of the nibs or beaks 4 and 5 are spaced apart, as indicated at 6, to provide clearance for the shell to be pried away from the nut, as indicated most clearly in Figure l of the drawing. A point 7 projects laterally from the extremity of thenib or beak 4i; and is adapted to engage the inner side of the shell which is received between the point 7 and the nib or beak 5. The edge of the part 5 bordering upon the space 6 is toothed, as indicated at 8, to make positive en gagement with the outer side of the shell and prevent slipping when turning the device to pry the shell away from the nut. In the preferable construction the device is formed from sheet steel of suitable gauge and may be finished in any manner.

In practice the nut cracked to admit of the point 7 reaching and engaging the inner side of the shell after which the device is turned to pry the shell outwardly away from the meat. This operation is repeated until the shell is completely removed thereby resulting in obtaining the kernel in its entirety without any breaks. This obviates the necessity of picking the meat from the shell or the necessity of repeated cracking in order to obtain the meat and which generally results in breaking of the kernel. into small pieces.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. An implement for ren'loving the shell from a pecan or analogous nut, the same comprising a blade having beaks projecting therefrom and adapted to receive the shell of the nut therebetwcen to be removed by a prying action.

2. An implement for removing the shell from a pecan or analogous nut, the same comprising a blade having complemental beaks projecting therefrom and curved in their length and spaced to receive the shell there between, one 01 the beaks having a terminal point projecting towards the companion beak to engage the inner side of the shell to be pried. from the nut.

3. A nut shelling implement comprising a blade having coacting beaks projecting tl'iereiirom and curving laterally in the same direction and spaced to receive the shell thereing coacting beaks projecting from the head between, the inner edge of one of the beaks in line With the shank and curving laterally being toothed and the companion beak terin the same direction, one of the beaks termi- 10 minating in a point projecting toward the noting in a point. 5 toothed beak. In testimony whereof I afiix my sigimtnre.

4-. A not shelling implement comprising a blade including a shank and a head, and hav- JOHN V. SMITH. [1 s. 

